Manna From Nowhere - Shaman (Living) In A Cadillac
- Music: Chuck Hawley
- Lyrics: Chuck Hawley
Some of those "psychotic" people on our streets might be better helped by persons (shamans, ayurvedic and chinese healers etc.) who have healthily integrated various non-ordinary realities into their lives than by "professionals" who suppress a broad range of experience with antipsychotic drugs.
This is kind of an amalgamation of experiences I've had with various homeless people around Albuquerque. It also questions our society's standard way of dealing with mental or psychotic breaks. The visions that sometimes occur with these states are not too different from those of intentionally induced shamanic states. With the right support, many of the homeless (and non-homeless) mentally ill could use the metaphors of this alternate reality to learn and grow and heal, but..."nobody cares about you" -C.H.
Studio Recordings[]
| Shaman - 3:59 - Recorded in studio for the CD release of Opposite You. |
Live Recordings[]
| Shaman 970130 - 4:31 - Recorded live at Emma's Silvertone Cafe, January 30, 1997. This was an acoustic show with just Chuck and Debo. | |
| Shaman 970227 - 4:34 - Recorded live at Gold Coast Coffehouse, February 27, 1997. This was a semi-acoustic show. | |
| Shaman 980516 - 6:18 - Recorded at The 3-Sided Hole near Rio Puerco, NM on May 16, 1998. | |
| Shaman 981211 - 3:54 - Recorded live at The Capitol Bar, Socorro, NM on December 11, 1998. |
Lyrics[]
I realized today, what a fool you really are
And I immediately asked, how I can be more like you
Professional survivor by necessity
Amateur psychotic by design
Shaman living in a cadillac (oh rusted cadillac)
Jaguar shot down to the earth,
With a splinter in your back
Count your sticks and throw your bones
Pick the one right key
From a pile of twenty
The clouds reflect the city lights
The metaphor for your burning throat is there...
But who cares?
Everybody's asking you "hey where'd you get those clothes?"
But you're just staring off, staring at the sky
Then every piece of chrome on the whole damn street
Is clamoring for your attention
(Bumper mind control)
(And you) remember 15 years ago, that fever of 104
Three days of that, and it's been different ever since
But let me tell you that that splinter
Didn't come out of no fence
Shaman living in a cadillac (oh rusted cadillac)
Jaguar shot down to the earth,
With a splinter in your back
Now you're not sleeping brother john
You threw your thorazine, in the duck pond
Gilgamesh has got nothing on you
Man oh man I wish i could help
But you know how it goes...
I've got some demons of my own
In the black ice morning,
The grid goes down for good
That blanket with the star falls to your feet and
Suddenly I see!
And i ask you if I can be of service today
But you just smile, you just smile and look away
© 1997 Chuck Hawley